Wakeboarder making his mark in the pro ranks

Steel Lafferty shows off his high-flying talents during the Big Air phase… (Submitted photo )

August 19, 2013|By Emmett Hall, Special Correspondent

It wasn't too long ago that Fort Lauderdale resident Steel Lafferty was taking the wakeboarding world by storm as a junior competitor.

Not only did he win just about every competition he entered, but he also continually thrilled his followers by establishing new tricks along the way.

The young star, who just turned 21, is now competing against the top professionals in the world.

Despite recent surgery to correct an ear drum problem, Lafferty couldn't pass up the opportunity to compete in the recent Red Bull Wake Open in Tampa. It proved to be a good decision as he finished seventh in the Big Air and seventh in the Wake competitions. Those efforts helped land him an overall placement in the top 10.

There were 35 professionals competing from nine countries.

Like Lafferty, they have an eye on the wakeboarding world championship event in Milwaukee later this month.

"This is the best competition you can ever get, and even though I was not at my best, this was a lot of fun," Lafferty said. "We were all stoked for the Big Air phase of the competition."

Lafferty has established a few firsts in the sport. He is the first wakeboarder to land a wake to wake 1080 and a toeside backside 900 off a double up that earned him the Wakeboard Trick of the Year designation.

As a former student-athlete at Westminster Academy, Lafferty played baseball, football, basketball and soccer before his father introduced him to a wakeboard at age 10. By the time Lafferty turned 13, his focus was solely on wakeboarding as he continued to hone his cable skills at Ski Rixen in Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach and on the family boat.

"I love competing and I'm always going for the gold, but it's not all about contests," Lafferty said. "It is also about the progression of the sport and where you want to take it. I'm living the dream."

Lauderdale restaurateur cooks up a big-time golf shot

Rick Mijares recently realized the ultimate goal of every golfer at the Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash.

Staring down the fairway 128 yards from the tee at the 15th hole, nicknamed "Lone Fir," Mijares pulled out his wedge iron and sent his ball within a couple feet of the cup. He then looked on in amazement as it rolled in for a hole-in-one.

Within minutes, staff members of Chambers Bay were informed of the feat, and it was duly recorded into the record books.

Chambers Bay Golf Course professional Ryan Young said holes-in-one are rare on a course that will serve as the site for the 2015 U.S. Open.

"A hole-in-one is very difficult, and Rick did this on our signature hole, which is amazing," Young said. "Only a handful of people have done this in the six years we have been open, so this is a super big deal."

Mijares had made the trip to Washington to participate in the Make-A-Wish Foundation Jeff Puetz Golf Tournament put on by his future father-in-law.

"This is the top of the mountain for any golfer," said the 32-year-old, who owns a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.

Mijares has been playing golf for only five years, but his dedication to the sport has already made him a 10-12 handicap.

For his effort, Mijares received a commemorative hole-in-one ball mark coin.

CrossFit enthusiasts display their skills in Raid Games 4

The CrossFit exercise craze is sweeping the nation, and 500 devoted athletes recently gathered at the Indoor Sports Complex in Deerfield Beach for the Raid Games 4.

Participants from as far away as California, Canada and South America showcased their talents in four individual divisions and in team competitions for men and women.

Road to Games is the highest skill level division, followed by the Rx division. Robinson Burkey, of Plantation, was a top local finisher as he took first place in the men's Rx division.

"CrossFit is a high-intensity functional training program that's always changing," said Jim Sayih, who lives in Pembroke Pines and is the creator of Raid Games. "We have over 140 gyms competing, and we put together different events with agility, cardio and strength challenges."

Katherine Noland, of Deerfield Beach, was an Elite division participant. She swam for Louisiana State University for four years and has been CrossFit training for the past year.

The 26-year-old teacher at Somerset Academy is also a part-time lifeguard and is accustomed to intense workouts.

"I've always been super competitive. (CrossFit) is terrific for athletes and even non-athletes because you get to work at your own level. Workouts vary and it's all about timing with everyone having a clock. The workouts are exciting, and I'm getting more out of this than I expected."